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There’s always that “one person who’s too woke” in the comments whenever a “cute” pet cafe video pops up online, pointing out how exploitative the whole thing actually is. And let’s be honest — many of us have probably rolled our eyes at them. But as it turns out, maybe they were right all along.
Meow Mee, a Singaporean-owned instant noodle cafe in Melaka has been ordered to close for a week and fined over RM10K after authorities discovered it had quietly turned itself into a mini zoo.
The closure, which runs from 22 to 28 Sep, came after a TikTok video of a visibly distressed alpaca on the premises went viral. TikTok user @sydhndrh posted the video, describing the alpaca as “lonely” and sparking widespread sympathy online.
What was supposed to be a casual spot for RM5 bowls of instant noodles had, over the months, become home to 23 animals including goats, ducks, geese, rabbits, cats, and that now-infamous alpaca.
According to Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB), the outlet’s food licence — issued in April — clearly prohibits animals on the premises. Yet by June, the cafe had become part eatery, part petting zoo.
An NGO report also alleged that nursing cats were repeatedly handled by customers and animals were kept on hard, barren surfaces with no enrichment.
Visitors shared similar complaints, from the overpowering stench of urine and faeces that made even the instant noodles hard to stomach, to the cramped, unhygienic enclosures housing rabbits, geese, and goats.
During a late-night raid on 21 Sep, officials found over 10 cats enclosed behind glass, rabbits in cages, geese and goats roaming freely upstairs, and the alpaca shut away in a separate room.
“This is the first time we’ve encountered a restaurant operating in this manner,” said mayor Datuk Shadan Othman. “The owner has been ordered to remove all animals and thoroughly clean the premises before reopening.”
It’s a cautionary tale for the digital age, where novelty sometimes comes before compassion. And yet, cafes showcasing alpacas, capybaras, and other exotic animals continue to thrive in other parts of Malaysia, including Johor Bahru.
As the line between entertainment and exploitation blurs, perhaps the real question is this — are we really enjoying this whole pet-cafe concept, or just turning living beings into backdrops for our next viral post?
